Publications

Provincially and territorially funded psychotherapy

For the most part, the services of psychologists, social workers, and psychotherapists are not covered by Medicare. Provincial and territorial health plans pay for some mental health professionals. These include psychiatrists and the services of therapists in a hospital setting (for example, a social worker at an outpatient clinic). People who want to access therapy generally without paying have to…

Culturally appropriate services that respect social identity

Racialized people, women, members of 2SLGBTQI communities, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, both younger and older people, immigrants, and refugees are at increased risk of mental health challenges, and may face systemic barriers in accessing services and treatment. Even when treatment and services are available, they are not always culturally appropriate. Staff may not understand different cultural values or different…

Collective care and self-care

Supporting members can be hard and exhausting work. If you want to be there for them, you have to take care of yourself. The union also needs to be responsible for the collective care of stewards or officers supporting members with mental illness. Practices and supports need to be in place to make sure everyone can do their work as…

Work-related PTSD

There is a growing recognition that workplaces can be a direct cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is generally harder to prove that a mental illness is a workplace injury because there are so many factors involved. For example, a high-stress environment may contribute to an episode of mental illness, but it’s not easy to demonstrate the connection. The…

The Mental Injury Toolkit

The Mental Injury Toolkit has been designed by union health and safety representatives from 10 unions and researchers from a variety of centres to help local unions & their health and safety committees focus on identifying and analyzing workplace stressors that can affect mental and physical health. From the Toolkit: “The Toolkit will provide workers a basic understanding and a…

Training

Stewards, local executive members and committee members should have proper training so they can understand mental health and mental illness, know how to talk to members empathetically, and be able to approach employers knowledgeably. Mental health is an ever-changing field, so even people who have had training should make sure it is up to date. Sources of training: The Mental…

Harassment, discrimination and domestic violence

Harassment and discrimination in the workplace are huge workplace stressors. Workers facing harassment and discrimination have increased stress and are more vulnerable to developing mental health issues. Racialized people, women, members of LGBTQ communities, Indigenous People, people with disabilities, younger and older people, immigrants, migrant workers and refugees generally face more harassment and discrimination in the workplace than others. As…

Finding community resources

There are many groups that offer counselling and support. Family doctors can be a great source of information. Here are some other suggestions for where to look for help: 211 service is available in some provinces and one territory. It connects you to government and community-based health and social services. You can access the service by calling 211. It is…

What options do you have in your collective agreement or health benefit plans?

Collective agreements and health plans vary a lot when it comes to language and health benefits. Members may not be aware of all the options available to them, and you can help them understand what is and isn’t covered by the language in your contract or the benefits in your health plan. Employee Assistance Programs or Employee and Family Assistance…

When should you approach a member about their mental health?

If you are concerned about a member’s mental health, you may want to see if they would like to have a conversation with you. This can be tricky, so you’ll want to show openness and empathy. You can’t know if someone else is struggling with their mental health, but there are signs they might be. The American Psychological Association lists…